Sponsored Editorial

We know it's hard to make lifestyle changes. Those post-Christmas fad diets and boom-or-bust gym workouts are tough to keep up!

But One You Kent is here to help with the little things you can do to improve your wellbeing so you feel more confident and in control of your life. Just swapping out sugary snacks for a piece of fruit, or going for a short walk, can make a big difference to how you feel.

Getting fitter and being a healthier weight can also boost your general health–including by lowering the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic back pain.

Kent resident Debbie reached out to One You Kent after finding it hard to find time for herself.

A mental health professional and proud grandmother from Gravesend, Debbie spends her day caring for others. But with support from Lifestyle Adviser Sarah Davies she also made space to look after her own health and wellbeing in her busy life. And she couldn’t be happier with the results.

So how does One You Kent Help you achieve your ‘new year, new you’ aims?

In a series of free one-to-one sessions, a friendly Lifestyle Adviser will guide and encourage you to:

· Stay motivated
· Overcome barriers that can get in way of you doing things differently
· Make manageable changes, and
· Know where to get further Better Health support to continue your healthy lifestyle journey.

Simply visit www.oneyoukent.org.uk and fill in a quick and easy referral form.

"For the first time in my life I'm making real, sustainable changes,” Debbie explains. “I look, feel and think better and I cannot thank my adviser Sarah enough.”

“As you get older, your body starts to let you know it’s not happy carrying extra weight with achy knees and joints. I’ve got four children and eight grandchildren and want to make sure I’m fit and healthy for them as long as I can be.

“Sarah really listened. She worked hard to get to know me and what makes me tick. I’m stubborn but my excuses didn’t work on her. She helped me see it’s ok to do more things for myself. We looked at ways I could manage things like snacking and I have a healthy grazing box now ready for the day to dip into.”

One You Kent Lifestyle Adviser Sarah recalls: “We focused on small things. Debbie’s a very busy lady helping lots of other people and we looked at ways she could prioritise herself a bit more and reward herself when she met her goals. She did an amazing job!”

Kent County Council (KCC) Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: “Lots of us start the new year with big resolutions. But little changes can be more effective over time because these are things you can keep doing when life gets back to normal after the festive break.

“We all know that making lifestyle adjustments when you’re juggling work and family can be difficult – so get support. One You Kent is a fantastic free service that has helped lots of residents, including Debbie, take the first steps towards reducing their health risks and living healthier, happier lives.”

For more information about One You Kent, Better Health apps and tools like the NHS Easy Meals app, visit: www.oneyoukent.org.uk.